Automatic water-supply control



July 23, 1929. J, A, CQLE L'ZZL944 AUTOMATIC WATER SUPPLY CONTROL Filed Feb. 19, 1926 ATTORNEY.

Patented July 23, 1929.

' UNITED r orifice.

JOHN .ADAMS COLE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC WATER-SUPPLY CONTROL.

Application led 'February 19, 1926. Serial-No. 89,335.

My invention consists in new and us-eful yimprovements in automatic watersupply control.

In many cities having no suitable sites for storage reservoirs, pumping stations are employed, where from one to a dozen large engines are used to pump water into the olistribution pipes and maintain a sufficient pressure to carry the water to consumers throughout the city.

Many of these pumping engines are very large, and discharge from ten to sixty million gallons each, per day, at a standard pressure of from forty to seventy pounds per square inch, and, due to the enormous fly wheels and other moving parts, it is practically impossible to regulate their rapidity of action to meet the constantly fluctuating demand for water in a city.

Thus the amount of water being pumped, and forced into the distribution pipe remains the same at all times, while the actual consumption of water by the inhabitants of the city changes from time to time. This causesV a great strain at times on the water system, and any weak places or flaws in the pipes, are apt to give way and cause a leak sooner or later.

After this has gone on for years there are, of course, a vast number of leaks in the system, which necessitates the use of additional pumping engines in order to maintain sufficient pressure, and also the discharge of more water from the source of supply, a great quantity of which is wasted.

It is the object of my invention to overcome these disadvantages and to provide an apparatus which will collect as much of the extra pumpage as is practicable; measure it and return it to the source of supply, or other place Where it can be utilized. y

A further object is to remove the air which is often introduced by the pumps and which collects in the tops of the pipes, displacing the solid water.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an air chamber and stand pipe,where by an elasticity of flow in the water system is obtained.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention consists in the novel features herein set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, numerals of like character designate similarl parts throughout the sev-l eral views. 4 y

Fig. 1 is a side view of my apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a portion of the overflow pipe, and

F ig. 3 is a sectional view of the same from the top looking down.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represent-s a cylidrical receiver, mounted on arsuitable base 2, and opening at one end into a connection 3, which leads to the city supply main 1. rIhe opposite end of thereceiver 1 opens into a vertically extending stand pipe 5, while the top of said receiver is connected to an air chamber 6, which in turn is connected to the stand pipe 5`by means of a pipe 7.

In one side of the receiver 1 is a plurality of apertures in which are mounted a` series of pipes 8, leading from the numerous pumps (not shown) and each provided with a valve The stand pipe 5 is connected at its upper extremity and at predetermined points down its wall, to an overflow pipe 9, the upper connection 10 serving at all times as an outlet for excess water from the stand pipe into the overflow pipe. lhe connections 11 are provided with valves whereby the height of the water in the stand pipe may be regulated, thus controlling the pressure in the system.

The lower end of the overflow pipe 9 is provided with an outlet aperture 12 which opens onto a .series of steps 13 on the masonry base or foundation 14; which will be referred to later.

15 designates a basin for catching the overflow, provided with an outlet pipe 16 on which is mounted a recording instrument 17.

In order to break up the force of the Water falling in the overflow pipe 9, I have provided a series of bali'ie pans 18, in staggered relation throughout the length of said pipe.

The operation of my improved apparatus is as follows:

Water is constantly pumped from'its source of supply into the receiver 1 through the pipes 8, from whence it is forced to the main 4 through the pipe. 3, for city consumption. Any air entering the receiver with the waterk rises into the air chamber 6 where it is compressed by the pressure of the water, and serves as a cushion, as will be hereinafter described. y

All water over the amount required to supbe. The fall ot' the overtlowing water in the,

pipe 9 is broken by the baffle pans 18, as shown by the arrows in F ig; 2, andthe-water is discharged from said pipe 9 through the aperture 12, onto the steps 18' which furthery break its i'fall as it enters the overflow basin l5. From this basin, the water flows by gravity back to its source, passing out through pipe 1G where it is measured' and recorded by a suitable instrument 17.

The air chamberl 6 is otsuiiicient diameter and height to contain compressed air enough to aiiord a cushion whenever'a reflex wave is occasioned by the sudden closing ofv hydrants or stop valves throughout` the city.

The stand pipe y-is primarily designed to hold the water pressure in the mains at' a ystandard rate and although it is not intended as a reservoir, it acts to'some extent as such.

Vith this apparatus it will be seen that all water pumped over the amount required to supply a city, is accountedfor and the quantity of the over-flow maybe subtracted from the amount actually pumped, whereby the volume of water necessary to keep up the city demand can be reduced and made toconform more closely to the actual consumption of the city.

lt will also be seen that leaks in certain mains may be easily repaired by shutting oli' the iow oi water therefrom, without causing the pumpingstations to shut down, as the overflow caused by shutting oil? one or t-wo mains is not wasted, but returned Vto the source otsupply and accounted for.

' From the foregoing, it is believed that my inventionv may be clearly understood wit-hout further description, it being borne in mind that numerous changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spiritrof the invention as disclosed in the following claims.

. Leere-a Vhat I claim and desire' to vsecure by Letters Patent iszl. An automatic water supply control.v comprising a receiver iu communication with a source oi' supply and discharging into a distributing main, a stand pipe connected to said receiver, an air chamber mounted on said receiver and in communication therewith rand with said'standvpipe, an overflow pipe adjacent said stand pipe, a plurality of connections between said stand pipe and over iiow pipe, said overiiow pipe being provided with a series ot battles and an outlet port, said port opening onto a series of steps, an overflow basin at the base oil said steps, provided with an out-let, and means in saidv outlet for measuring the volume of water pass ing therethrougl 2. An automatic supply control for city water systems, comprising in combination, a receiver in communication with a source of `supply and a distributing main, means ior pumping' water into said'receiver, and means Yfor measuring the water pumped, a stand pipe connected to Isaid receiverifor equalizing changes in quantities of wat-er used by consuiners, whereby a maximum head isstabilized, agaii st which thesupply pumps may operate, means for changingsaid head tocO'n'Ormto the demands atdiiierent times,

an overliow for allowing the 'escape of excess water sent to the system vby said supply pumps, mcansi-or returning said excess water to the source of supply,a meter for measuring the amount so returned, whereby the total amount actually consumed may be ascer tained, and means :torv permitting the escape Vot' air admitted to'said system with the water. 3'. The combination as claimed in claim 2, including an air chamber in connection with said receiver, forpreventing shocks or water hammercaused by thesuddenr closing 0IP large discharge openings in said system.

In testimony whereotly aiixmy signature.

JOHN `ADAMS COLE. 

